Means for mounting machine tool attachments



p 1953 F. STEINBRECKER MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE TOOL ATTACI'IMENTS Filed April 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 1, 1953 F. STEINBRECKER 2,650,521

MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE TOOL ATTACHMENTS Filed April 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nlulll ml 62, 6 INVENTOR'.

BY YiiMxLJRzA ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 MEANS FOR MOUNTING MACHINE TOOL ATTACHMENTS Freddy Steinbrecker, Racine, Wis., assignor to George Gorton Machine 00., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 7, 1950, Serial No. 154,586

12 Claims. (Cl. 90-11) My invention relates to certain improvements in means for mounting machine tool attachments; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions of the invention, from among various other forms, embodiments, designs, constructions and combinations, of which the invention is capable within the broad spirit and scope thereof as defined by the hereinafter appended claims.

While the invention relates generally to machine tools, it is more particularly concerned with the provision of novel means for handling and supporting an attachment for milling machines.

A general object of the invention is to provide improved means for storing temporarily on a milling machine an attachment for the machine together with improved mechanism for movin and guiding the attachment between its non-operative, stored position and its active position in operative driven relation with the milling machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved supporting means for temporarily storing an attachment in an inactive and nonoperative position on a milling machine.

Still another object is to provide improved means for hingedly supporting and for guiding a milling machine attachment during movement of the attachment between one position and another position.

A further object is to provide means for hingedly supporting an attachment in temporarily stored, non-operating position on a milling machine, in which such means includes a crane for moving the attachment between a stored, nonoperating position and an operating position, with the crane providing a hinge capable of moving eccentrically and being supported on the column of the machine.

With the foregoing objects and results in view, as well as certain others which will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, my invention consists in certain novel features in design and construction and in combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be more particularly referred to and described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the upper end portion of the column of a horizontal spindle milling machine showing a vertical spindle head attachment unit on a hinged attachment mounting means of the invention mounted on a side of the machine column, the attachment head and the hinge supporting means being shown with the head in operative position on the machine.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the attachment head unit in its temporarily stored, non-operative position at the side of the machine column.

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the attachment in its operative position of Fig. 1 with a portion of the attachment base shown in horizontal section, the attachment head and associated hinge mounting being shown in dotted outline in its temporarily stored position at the side of the machine column.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the base structure of the head attachment, taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a section through the base structure of the attachment head taken as on the line 55 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the upper end portion of the machine column with the at tachment head supporting hinge structure and attachment head thereon in operative mounted position at the forward side of the column.

An adaptation of an attachment mounting means embodying my invention for mounting a vertical spindle attachment, unit A on a milling machine of the horizontal spindle type has been selected as an example and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. As the milling machine of the example may be of any of the well-known horizontal spindle types, it has been considered necessary to show only the upper portion of the vertical column C of the machine. This particular milling machine is of the type which includes the horizontally disposed and adjustable overarm forming ram R which may be adjusted to positions projected forwardly (see Fig. 2) from the column to extend over the usual work table (not shown), or which may be retracted or moved rearwardly to an adjusted position (see Figs. 1 and 3) in which its forward end is redriven connection with the spindle 20 for the pur-:

pose of converting or adapting the machine for vertical milling, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 1. The attachment unit A is adapted to be detached and removed from mounted operative position on the machine to reconvert the machine for horizontal milling operations by the s indle 20.

The example milling machine is provided with the usual vertically disposed guide or slide-way G at the forward side of column C. This slideway G may be formed of a vertically disposed plate-like structure It and a guide or rall member [5 vertically disposed centrally along and projecting forwardly from the structure Ill The usual horizontal spindle 2E3 (seeFigs. 2 and 6) is provided in'column C adjacent the upper end thereof with the spindle projecting through an opening 2i centered through the forwardly projecting guide rail 15. The forwardly projected nose end of spindle 2| is designed to removably mount a driving gear 22 for mountmg on the spindle when the machine is to be converted by mounting the vertical spindle attachment unit A on the column C of the machine. The gear 22 is removable when the attachment unit A has been removed from operative posit on so as to convert the machine back to condition for horizontal milling or other horizontal spindle operations.

The plate-like structure l8 provides at its forward side at opposite sides of the guide member I5, the vertically disposed surfaces ii and i2, and provides along its opposite outer edges, the vertical contact surfaces it, and it, respectively, in parallel planes perpendicular to the common plane of surfaces H and H. The guide it provides at its outer side a vertical surface it 111 a plane parallel with the plane of the surfaces l4 and i6 and at its opposite edges provides the parallel, vertical contact surfaces is and it parallel with the surfaces it and it and disposed in planes perpendicular to the planeof surface ll. The structure making up the guide or slide-way G terminates at its upper end below the plane of the under surface of the ram R, so that the ram has operating clearance therewith for projection and retraction on the upper end of column C. In its retracted position the forward end of ram R may be located to the rear of and substantially exposing the upper end of the structure making up the slide-way G. (See Fi 6.)

in the machine of this example, referring now to Figs. 3, i and 5, the forward side of column C is formed to provide with the opposite vertical edge portions of structure It, the open outer side,

vertical recesses his and 28a at and along the rear of the opposite edge portions, respectively, of structure It, these vertical recesses being closed at their forward sides by the opposite outer edge portions of structure It.

The vertical spindle attachment unit A, is adapted to be mounted and attached on the forward side of column C in a position over and in engagement with certain of the vertical surfaces of guide structure G in operative driven relation with a driving gear 22 mounted on the projected nose'end of spindle 2!. This attachment unit A includes a mounting base structure til and a head structure 31 in which there is journaled a vertical cutter spindle 32 driven through suitable gearing within the head from driven gear 33 journaled .in the upper portion of base structure 30. Gear 33 is adapted to be placed in driven mesh with the horizontal spindle mounted gear 22 when the head A is mounted in its operative position on the slide-way G at the forward side of the column C of the machine. In the illustrated example of attachment unit A, the vertical spindle mounting head structure 3| is mounted and attached on the base structure 30 for angular adjustment thereon about a horizontal axis.

In the mounted, operative position of the attachment unit A, the base 30 thereof is vertically disposed and provides vertical contact surfaces parallel with and which must seat against corresponding complementary contact surfaces of the slide-way G. In such mounted position, the driven gear '33 of the base is in driven engagement with the horizontal spindle mounted gear 22 at the upper side of the latter gear. (See Fig. 6.)

I In mounting and attaching unit A into such operative position, before moving the unit inwardly -intoposition with the contact surfaces engaged,

it must be first positioned with these surfaces parallel and then moved inwardly to final position, as the unit cannot be swung or moved angularly into its final operative position. Inaddition to initially positioning the unit with the contact surfaces lined up in parallelism before engaging such surfaces, the unit must be brought into such initial position slightly elevated above its final mounted position in order that gear 33 of the unit may be brought cleanly and without injury into engaging mesh with gear 22 of spindle 2% by thenmovin the unit downwardly from such initial elevated position to its final position on column C and the slide-way G. Conversely, when detaching and removing the unit from its operative position, it is first necessary to slightly elevate the unit and then move it outwardly from slide-way G with the contact surfaces maintained in parallelism until disengaged.

The base 3d of unit A at the inner or rear side, is formed with a vertically disposed recessed or inset portion which is open at its lower side and which provides along its opposite vertical side edges the contact surfaces 34 and 35, for contact engagement with the vertical edge contact surfaces 18 and 59, respectively, of guide P5 of the column slide-way G. This recess or insetportion of base 30 terminates at its upper end spaced a distance below the upper end portion of the base and is closed by a wall portion which provides the horizontally disposed surface 38 (see Fig. 2) joining and merging at its opposite ends with the surfaces 34 and 35. An enlarged circular opening 3'! is formed through the innerwalls of the recess portion of base 30 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof for receiving the horizontal spindle mounted driving gear .22 when attachment unit A is mounted in operative position on the machine column. At opposite intermediate portions the surfaces 34 and 35 have outwardly curved arcuate sections 340. and 35a concentric with opening 3? for receiving opposite sides of the spindle collar 21a which is mounted on slide-way G and which receives and through which the spindle 28 extends.

The rear side wall of base 33 at opposite sides of the central recess which provides the contact surfaces 34 and 35, is formed to provide the vertical surfaces 40 and 4| in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the vertical planes of the surfaces 34 and 35, and being dimensioned and positioned to be parallel and align with the opposite side, complementary surfaces H and [2 of the guide-way G, when unit A is in mounted operative position. Along the oppositaouter sides of surfaces 46 and 41 the base 30 is formed with rearwardly inwardly projecting, and vertically disposed, laterally outwardly extending wing portions 42 and 43 which provide along their inner vertical edges the vertical contact surfaces 44 and 45 for fitting over and contacting with the contact surfaces l4 and I6, respectively, at the outer side vertical edges of the slide-way G when the unit A is in mounted operative position on the column C. (See Figs. 3, 4 and 5.)

Wing portion 42 of base 30 is provided with vertically spaced, horizontally disposed slots 42a therethrough, and a plate or rail member 46 is secured on the rear or inner side of wing 42 by bolts 42b which are extended inwardly through slots 42a and through bores in the plate member which are aligned with these slots. The bolts 42b are headed at their inner ends for seating in sockets formed in the inner ends of the bores and at their outer ends are threaded to receive the fastening nuts 42c. Wing portion 43 is provided with a similar arrangement of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed slots 43a therethrough with the plate member 41 secured on the wing 43 by the bolts 43b which are extended through slots 43a and through bores in the plate member 41 aligned with slots 43a. Bolts 431) are externally threaded at their outer ends to receive the fastening nuts 430 while the inner ends of the bolts are headed for fitting in retaining sockets formed in the ends of the bolt receiving bores at the inner side of plate member 41. Thus, the plate members 46 and 41 are independently adjustable horizontally to various positions of adjustment projected inwardly beyond the respective wing members on which mounted or to positions projected outwardly with their inner edges laterally outwardly clear of the contact surfaces 44 or 45, respectively.

The drive mounted within the unit A for the vertical spindle 32, includes the driven gear 33 which is located and positioned within base 30 at a location above opening 31 with the lower portion of the gear projecting into and exposed through the upper portion of this opening. The lower portion or segment of driven gear 33 which is exposed at the upper side of opening 31 is adapted to be engaged in driven mesh with the spindle mounted gear 22 when unit A is in operative position mounted on the machine. (See Fig. 6.)

In accordance with my invention I provide a means for mounting and supporting the attachment unit A on the machine column C and for moving and guiding such unit between a position of storage at one side of column C removed from interference with operations of the machine for horizontal milling, and a position of operative mounting and attachment on the column C and guideway G with the vertical cutter spindle 32 in operative driven connection through the engaged gears 33 and 22 with the horizontal spindle 2D.

I have devised one form of of such a supporting and moving means as a hingedly mounted attachment unit supporting crane structure identified herein in its entirety by the reference character H. The attachment unit A is pivotally mounted on and carried by this supporting structure and may be moved and guided thereby from a non-operative storage position at one side of column C, as shown in Fig. 2, to its final operative position mounted and secured on the forward side of the column C and slide-way G,

to convert the machine for vertical spindle operations, as shown in Fig. 1. i

The attachment unit mounting structure may, as in the example hereof, include amounting base plate 50 secured by bolts, machine screws or the like 50a, to one side of column C, in this example the right hand side when facing the machine. This base plate 50 has formed integrally therewithin at the outer end thereof, a vertically disposed bearing forming boss or member 5| having a vertical, cylindrical bore 5: therethrough (see Fig. 6) in which there is journaled a spindle member 52 for rotation therein about its vertical axis. A pintle pin or shaft is mounted and secured in vertical position in and extending through spindle 5| but this shaft is eccentrically mounted therein and therethrough relative to the vertical axis of rotation ofthe spindle, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 3. The pintle pin or shaft 53 is non-rotatable in the spindle 52 and is extended outwardly beyond the upper and lower ends of the bearing member forming boss 5| to provide the opposite end, upper and lower hinge pins 53a for pivotally mounting and receiving thereon the hinge. body or crane member 54 of the mounting structure. Thus, rotation of the spindle 52 moves thelpintle pin 53 through an arcuate path having the axis of spindle 52 as a center.

The crane member 54 is provided with the vertically spaced hinge arms or lugs 54a extending horizontally from the rear side of the body at the upper and lower ends thereof. These arms 54a are provided with vertically axially aligned bores therethrough which rotatably receive the pins 53a, respectively, provided by the outwardly projected ends of the eccentrically mounted shaft 53, In this manner the hinge body 54 is hingedly mounted in vertically disposed position supported on and from spindle 52 and its eccentrically mounted shaft 53, with the hinge body being extended forwardly along the side of column C. By such mounting the hinge body may be swung or pivoted about the vertical axis of shaft 53 and in addition shaft 53 with the hinge body 54 may be bodily horizontally translated or moved forwardly or rearwardly byrotation of spindle 52 about its vertical axis to thereby move pintle pin 53 forwardly or rearwardlythrough an arcuate path about the axis of spindle 52 between arrearward position indicated at E in full lines, and a forward position indicated in dotted lines at F, in Fig. 3.

.The attachment unit A is pivotally mounted and supported on and by the hinge body or crane member 54 which is carried by the spindle 52 and the shaft 53, mounted eccentrically on the spindle. Such mounting is carried out in the example hereof, by providing the wing portion 43 of the attachment unit base 30, with the vertically spaced, laterally outwardly projecting, hinge arms or lugs 55 having vertically axially aligned bores therethrough which pivotally receive the upper and lower pivot pins 56a and 56b of a shaft 56 rotatably mounted in vertically disposed posi- 'face upon which the lowerv arm. 55 of; wing. 43 rests to thereby support the attachment unitA by its base 30- onv and: from. the: hinge; body or crane member 54:. In this, mannner the attachment unit A is horizontally swingable on hinge body 54; independently of that body; or. is swingable with that; body about the axis provided by pin 53;. as well as being forwardly rearwardly movable with that bodybetween. the: positions of the eccentrically mounted shaft 52', indicated: at E and E" in Fig. 3L

By afeaimre: of: my invention. provision is made for: vertically adjusting or: moving the attachmentzunit. A bodily upwardly or: downwardly on and independentlyof the hinge body or crane member 54;. Referring to Fig. 1,. the vertical dimension of hinge is less than theverti cal spacing between the'inner facing sides-of arms 55 ofibase- 3.0. of the unit, so" that,- inmounted position there is operating clearancebetween the upper and lower sides of body 54 and arms: 55'. Attachment unit A, therefore is capable of vertical movements upwardly or downwardly within the limitsdetermined by the clearance: space provided between the-hinge body 54 and the arms 55 of: the base of the unit;

In: Fig. I of" the drawings the unit may be considered to be shown in its: maximum lowered position. The attachment unit A is raised or lowered byrotating shaft 56 in the proper direction to therebyrotatethe threaded section 5T of theshatt in thethread'edsection 58a of the shaft bore: 5 8 to raise or lower the shaft and the attachmentunit; To this end in the instant example, theportion of the low-er end 586 of shaft 56 below the supporting member 59 is formed with flats; or a squared section for receiving a suitable tool for rotating the shaft. From the position of' Fig; l, by rotating shaft 56 m the'proper direction, the shaft will be fed upwardly through hinge-body 5W to thereby raise orelevate attachment unit' A relative to the slide-way G and the horizontal spindle mounted driving gear 21-. From anelevated position reverse rotation of shaft 56'willeffect-bodily'lowering' of the unit-on the hinge body or crane 54.

Adjustable depth stopmeans is provided by which the maximum lowered position of the attachmentunit A on the hinge body or crane" 54 may be selectively determined.

In this example such means happens totake the form of adepth stop screw 60 which is threaded down into a vertical tapped bore. 60a extend-ed down through the portion of base1'30 above the recessed or inset portion" of the: base with thistapped bore opening at its lower end into 'such recess through the surface 33 which extends across the upper side of: the recess'. (See Fig: 6.): Stop screw fiflzis adapted" to: be projected downwardly below surface 33 for depth: stopdimiting engagement with the upper. endofi'the guide li of 'theslide way G. A look screw 61* is thread:- ed down: intothe upper end portion; of: the: tap bore" 60a with its: inner end adapted: to abut againsttheupper end of stop; screw 605 to thereby lock the latter screw adjusted position; The; arrangement of the stop. screw 60? andrlo'ck screw: 6| is; shown. particularly in- Figs; 2 and: 6 of the drawings:

Thezattachmentunit. A mounted and; supported on the. hinged supporting; crane structure; is shownz in" its operative position onand: secured to the slide-way G at t-he forward siderofx column in- Figs. 1 and-'3 to:6;. Referringtol igsaiiiv 4a; and;5,.it will be noted that with the-unitA-lin such position, thehinge'body or crane- 54' in its posh tiorr moved bodily rearwardly with the eocen trically' mountedashaft 53 moved. to: its rearward position E' by'c'ounterclockwise rotation of sp dle 52:. The base 39: ofnthe attachment unit A: is secured in position against the forward-side of slide way G with the surfaces of the sets of parallel surfaces B-34', iii-35' and iii-'45 of the slide-wayG and base 30 in contact-and with the plate or rail members 46 and 4'! in positions proj-ecteidi inwardly into the recesses: Ida and Mia to the rear of the opposite outer edge portions of plate member W to thereby securetheattachment in mounted position against movementor displacement. outwardly from the slide way.

Referring to- Fig. 1, it is; seen that the attachment unit A has been lowered on crane: 54 by ro+ tation. of the shaft 56 to its maximum lowered position determined by the engagement of the depth stop screw 63; with the upper endof the guide It of slide-way G. It-will be further noted from Figs. 1 and 6; that the ram R has been moved rearwardly to retracted position toexpose the upper end of the structure of the slide-way G, so; that the. upper end portion of the slideway is: received in the recessed portion/Vat the inner. side of base 38. In this mountedposition of the attachment'unit A the driven-gear 33- of the gear train of the unit is in operative'mesh with the driving gear 22 mounted on horizontal spindle Not the machine andtheverticallspihdle' 32 in head 3| is in driven connection with spindle 2D. I

When it is desired to remove attachment unit A from its mounted operative position and move it. to its stored position, to convert the machine for horizontal spindle" operations, the plate" members 46 and are loosened by" means of the attaching nuts 42c and 43c, and are then adjusted laterally outwardly to positions clear of member in of slide-way G. This'releases the-attachment unit A for displacement forwardly from its mounted position. Before effecting such" forward displacement, however; the shaft 56 is rotated in the proper" direction to feed the unit- A upwardly on crane member 54 to thereby elevate the unitto a position in which the driven gearthereof is raised to-posit ion' out cf mesh with the driven gear 22' of the horizcnt'a'lspindle 2 8 of? the machine. Under these conditionsythe attach ment unitmay thenbe moved forwardly with the contact surfaces 44, 34, 35 and 45 thereof maintained parallelism with the complementary contact surfaces of slide-way G1, to thereby permit of smooth. disengagement of the surfaces without binding or: jamming. therebetween due to angular displacements. of. base: 39 relative" to the. slider-way. The forwarddisplacement of unit; AWithzltS contact"surfaces parallel with: thecontact surfaces, of the slide-way G- is made possible by the rotationof: spindle-52-to cause; the eccentrically mounted shaft'53 thereof to move for wardly about the axis ofspindle 52 to thereby permit of the body movement in a straight line path forwardly from base. 30 of unit A-unt'il that base. is completely cleared'from' contact with any surfaces of'slide-way G. Thisforwar'd; straight line displacement of unit A is" effected without binding or jamming between'the' crane member 54 and base- 3fl=due to the pivotal mounting therebetween provided Icy-the shaft 55' of the crane member and the supporting arms-'55:of thebase; Such forward? displacement" is continued until eccentrically mountedshaft: 53:1 has swung: for wardlv through its arcuate path to v the: position F' shown in: Fig; 3; Fromsuch: position the at tachment unit A may then be swung outwardly and rearwardly to its stored position along the side of the column as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3. During this swinging movement to stored position, counter-clockwise rotation of spindle 52 is effected so that the eccentrically mounted shaft 53 moves rearwardly through its arcuate path to its position E as shown in Fig. 3. In order to detachably lock and secure unit A in its stored position at the side of column C, I have provided the head 3| of the unit with a bracket member 10 in the form of a lug integral with the head and depending downwardly from the right hand side thereof. This bracket member 10 is provided with a vertically disposed tapped bore 10a opening through the lower end thereof. On the right hand side of machine column C an L-shaped bracket H is secured with one arm of the bracket extending horizontally outwardly from the colurrn and rotatably mounting therein an externally threaded screw '12 for threading into tapped bore 10a of the head bracket Ill. The bracket H is so located and positioned on column C that when attachment unit A is in its stored position at the side of the column as shown in Fig. 3, the tapped bore 10a of bracket 10 is aligned with the screw 12 on bracket 1|, so that the screw may be then threaded up into bracket 10 to releasably secure the unit in stored position.

To move the unit A from its stored position to its operative position it is only necessary to release the unit from bracket 12 and then swing it forwardly and inwardly. Such swinging movement will result in clockwise rotation of spindle 52 to thereby move the eccentrically mounted shaft 53 through its arcuate path from its position E. to its position F. (See Fig. 3.) In position F the unit A may then be swung or pivoted about shaft 55 until it is in front of slide-way G with the contact surfaces 44, 34, 35 and 45 aligned and parallel with the contact surfaces I4, [8, I9 and I6, respectively, of the slide-way G. Prior to or after such alignment the unit A is raised by proper rotation of shaft 56 to its maximum position of elevation. The unit A may then be moved directly inwardly into position on and over slide-way G with the various contact surfaces in engaged, seated relation, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The spindle mounted gear 22 in such position is received within opening 31 of base 30 of the unit, and theunit may then be lowered by rotation of shaft 56 until it is in position with gear 33 in mesh with gear 22 and with the depth stop screw 60 engaged with the upper end of guide 15 of slide-way G. The unit may then be secured in final position by moving the plate members 45 and 41 inwardly to positions at the rear of the opposite edge portions of the plate member I0. Nuts 42c and. 430 are then tightened to lock the plates in such position.

In order to insure near perfect alignment laterally, screws 15, referring now to Fig. 5, are provided threaded into and extending through wing portion 42 of base 30 in position for engagement of their inner ends with the surface [4 of the slide-way G. Thus, any play laterally that may be developed between the base 30 of unit A and slide-way G when the unit is in mounted operative position, may be taken up and compensated for by tightening up on the screws 15.

By my invention as exemplified in the herein disclosed embodiment thereof, the attachment to and detachment from a machine tool of a unit, such as the vertical spindle attachment unit A of this example, may be carried out by an operator with a minimum of time and effort and with extreme accuracy of positioning. Such attachment units are frequently of considerable weight and the attachment and detachment thereof have heretofore presented a number of problems as such operations usually call for the use of hoist and handling equipment, and the reliance upon the care of the handlers in mounting and removing such units to avoid damage or injury. Similarly such units, when detached have been usually stored at some remote place, such as a tool room, and when a unit was required it has been necessary to remove the unit from storage and transport it to the machine to which it was to be attached. With the crane mounting arrangement of my invention such an attachment unit is capable of ready attachment and detachment by a single operator and when swung and releasably secured in its position of storage it is located out of the way for normal operations of the machine, but immediately available for attachment by merely moving the unit by the crane arrangement to attached position.

It will also be evident that various other forms, designs, embodiments, substitutions, eliminations, adaptations and combinations may be resorted to without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and hence I do not wish to limit myself in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures of the selected example of the invention herein illustrated and described.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a machine tool having a supporting column, and an attachment unit adapted to be supported on the machine in either an operative position at the forward side of said column or a storage position at one side of the column removed'from and unobstructing the forward side thereof, of a crane member swingably mounted at the storage side of said column, a hinge mounting for said crane member at the storage side of said column, said hinge mounting including a spindle member journaled for rotation about a vertical axis, said crane member being ivotally mounted on said spindle member for pivoting thereon about a vertical axis located eccentrically relative to the axis of rotation of said spindle, and said attachment unit being pivotally mounted on said crane member for swinging thereon independently thereof about a vertical axis and for horizontal movement bodily along a straight line path with said crane member by movement of said eccentrically located pivot through an arcuate path with rotation of said spindle member.

2. The combination with a machine tool. having a supporting column, and an attachment unit adapted to be supported on the machine in either an operative position at the forward side of said column or a storage position at one side thereof removed from the forward side, of a crane member supported at the storage side of said column by a hinged mounting means comprising a spindle member rotatable about a vertical axis,

and a vertically disposed pivot member eccen- :and being arranged for vertical adjustments on and relative to said crane member, and said at- 11 tachment unit being swingably mounted on said pivot shaft and being vertically adjustable on and relative to said crane member by vertical adjustments of said shaft.

3. The combination with a machine tool having a supporting column provided with a vertically disposed slide-way at the forward side thereof, and an attachment unit adapted to be supported on the machine in either an operative position at the upper portion of said vertical slide-way or a storage portion at one side of the column, said attachment unit being provided with adjustable depth stop means for engaging the upper end of the column slide-way when the unit is in operative position thereon, of a crane member pivotally mounted at the storage side of the machine for swinging in a horizontal plane, said attachment unit being pivotally mounted on and supported from said crane member for movements bodily horizontally with said member between operative position and .storage position, and means on said crane member for raising or lowering said attachment unit on and relative to the crane member to raise or lower said attachment unit relative to the upper end of said slide-way.

4. The combination withxa machine tool having a supporting column provided with a vertically disposed slide-way at the forward side thereof, said slide-way being provided with vertical contact surfaces in planes normal to the vertical plane of the slide-way, and an attachment unit adapted to be supported on "the machine at either an operative position on the forward side of said slide-way or-a storage position atone side of the column removed from the slideway, said attachment unit including a base provided with spaced, vertical contact surfaces parallel with and adapted to engage the contact surfaces, respectively, of said slide-way when the unit is in its operative position thereon, a crane member pivotally mounted at the storage side of said column on a hinged mounting means comprising, a vertically disposed spindle rotatable about a vertical axis, and a pivot member on said spindle providing a vertical axis eccentric relative to the axis of said spindle, said crane member being pivotally mounted on said pivot axis for horizontal swinging about the axis of said spindle and for bodily movements along a straight-line path perpendicular to .the planes of the contact surfaces on said slide-way, and said attachment unit being pivotally mounted and supported on said crane member for pivoting thereon independently thereof, about a vertical axis spaced outwardly from said spindle member.

5. Means for mounting an attachment unit on a machine tool for horizontal bodily swinging of the unit from either one of two positions to the other, comprising, a base structure for attachment on a machine tool, a vertically disposed spindle journaled in said base structure for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertically disposed pivot eccentrically mounted on said spindle member relative to the vertical axis of rotation of said member, a crane member pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said spindle mounted pivot, a vertical pivot shaft on said crane member for pivotally mounting and supporting an attachment unit of the crane member, and said latter pivot shaft being mounted for vertical adjustment on said crane member, to vertically adjust the position of an attachment unit mounted thereon relative to the crane member.

6. Means for mounting an attachment unit on a machine tool for horizontal movements bodily of the unit from either one of two positions to the other,comprising a base structure for attachment on a machine tool, a vertically disposed spindle member journaled in said base structure for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertically disposed pivot eccentrically mounted on said spindle member relative to the vertical axis of said member, a crane member, said crane member being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said spindle mounted pivot, said crane member being provided at the opposite end thereof with a vertical bore therethrough having an internally threaded section, a pivot shaft mounted in and extending through'the bore of said crane member and being provided with an externally threaded section threadedly engaged in said bore section for vertical adjustments upwardly or downwardly of said pivot shaft on said crane member, said pivot shaft being adapted to mount an attachment unit thereon, and means on said pivot shaft for supporting an attachment unit mounted thereon against axial displacement relative thereto whereby vertical adjustment of said pivot shaft effects vertical adjustment of an attachment unit relative to said crane member.

'7. The combination with a machine tool, and an attachment unit therefor adapted to be supported on said machine at either one of two positions, of a crane hingedly mounted on the machine for supporting said unit while the unit is being moved from one of said positions to the other, said crane comprising pivotally connected members for mounting and supporting said attachment unit, a pivotal connection for said members including a shaft mounted on one of said members and having a threaded portion for threaded engagement with the other of said members whereby one :of said members may be moved vertically upwardly or downwardly relative to the other of said members, and said attachment unit being mounted on said vertically movable member.

8. The combination with a machine tool, and an attachment unit therefor adapted to be supported on the machine at either of two positions, of a crane hingedly mounted on said machine for supporting said attachment unit while the unit is being moved from one of said two positions to the other, said crane including pivotally connected members, a pivotal connection for said members adapted to provide for movements vertically upwardly and downwardly of one of said members relative to the other, means for moving said vertically movable member upwardly or downwardly, said attachment unit being mounted on said vertically movable member, a hinge mounting for supporting said crane on said machine for horizontal swinging about a vertical axis for movement of said attachment unit from one of said two positions to the other, and a vertical pivot on said hinge mounting locatedeccentrically relative to the vertical axis of rotation of said mounting, and said crane being pivotally mounted on said eccentrically located pivot of said hinge mounting.

9. Means for mounting an attachment unit on a machine tool for bodily swinging of the unit from either one of two positions to the other, comprising: a supporting base structure for attachment on a machine tool; a spindle member rotata'bly mounted on said base structure; a pivot mounted on said spindle member with its axis parallel with but eccentrically located relative 13 to the axis of rotation of said spindle member, a crane member swingably mounted on said spindle member pivot, and a pivot on said crane member adapted to pivotally mount an attachment unit thereon supported from said crane member.

10. The combination with a machine tool and an attachment unit therefor adapted to be supported .on the machine at either one of two positions, of a crane member pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said machine for swingably supporting said unit for movements thereof from one of said positions to the other, a pivot shaft on the opposite end of said crane member and being mounted thereon for movements axially in either direction independently of said crane member, means for moving said pivot shaft axially, and an attachment unit pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft and being movable bodily relative to said crane member by axial movements of said shaft on the crane member.

11. Means for mounting an attachment unit on a machine tool for movements of said unit from. either one of two positions to the other, comprising, in combination, a hinge mounting for attachment on a machine tool, a crane member swingably supported at one end thereof on said hinge mounting and being also mounted thereon for limited movements bodily along a straight line path, a pivot shaft on the opposite end of said crane member positioned with its axis parallel with the axes of swing of said crane member on said hinge mounting and being mounted on said crane member for movements axially in either direction independently of said member, means for selectively moving said pivot shaft on said crane member axially in either direction, and said pivot shaft being adapted to pivotally mount an attachment unit thereon for movements bodily therewith by axial movements of said shaft on said crane member.

12. The combination with a machine tool having a vertically disposed column, and an attachment unit adapted to be supported on said machine at either a storage position located at one side of the machine column or an operative position mounted at the forward side of the column, of a crane member pivotally mounted and supported from the storage side of the machine column for horizontal movements bodily; means pivotally mounting and supporting said attachment unit at one side thereof to said crane member for movements bodily of said unit horizontally between storage position and operative position; said means for pivotally supporting said crane member comprising a spindle mounted for rotat-ion about a vertical axis; .a pivot shaft mounted on said spindle in position located eccentrically relative to and parallel with the axis of rotation of the spindle and being movable bodily through an arcuate path by rotation of said spindle; and said crane member being pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft for bodily movements horizontally along a straight line path by movements of said pivot shaft through its arouate path with rotation of said spindle; said crane member being also swingable about said pivot shaft independently thereof and of said spindle.

FREDDY STEINBRECKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,783 Bennett Sept. 29, 1936 2,110,295 Graves Mar. 8, 1938 2,177,826 Hansen Oct. 31, 1939 2,217,938 Armitage Oct. 15, 1940 2,494,682 Aspin Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,148 France Dec. 18, 1917 

